Case Study

Literature

Brighton to benefit from hundreds of new homes

18th September 2014

Hundreds of homes are set to be constructed on the site of a former fruit and veg market in Brighton.The town's planning committee has granted approval for a Public-Private Partnership scheme by Cathedral (Brighton), the University of Brighton and the city council to regenerate the one-hectare site off Circus Street. Some 142 new homes are to be built, 20 per cent of which will be affordable properties, as the developers create a mixed-use scheme and 'innovation quarter'.Cathedral have said they intend to create a "new genre" of urban development with green walls, green roofs, 78 new trees and allotments for food growing, enabling the production of over 200 kg of food per year for residents.The plan also includes new teaching and research facilities for the University of Brighton, including a new library and 450 units of student accommodation.Workspaces will be provided, mainly aimed at start-up businesses, artists and larger companies. More than 3,000 sq m of commercial space is to be created as part of a modern office building, helping to ensure creative and digital businesses remain and flourish in the city.A new dance studio will be created for South East Dance and this is expected to attract 70,000 visitors and users every year.Planning committee chair councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty said: "The new Circus Street brings us a host of exciting new developments for a community and an area of our city that has been marginalised too often."It is a sign of new hope in the city and affirms that our city is a place which looks to the future with confidence."The project is expected to create 400 jobs and inject £200 million into the city’s economy over the next ten years. At least 20 per cent of the construction work will be carried out by the local labour force.Infrastructure is also set to be improved, with developers contributing £250,000 to improve local transport and recreation provision.